Exodus 12:19

19 '¹Seven days there shall be no leaven found in your houses; for whoever eats what is leavened, that ²person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is an alien or a native of the land.

Exodus 12:19 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 12:19

Seven days there shall be no leaven found in your houses,
&c.]. Wherefore, on the fourteenth day the most diligent search was made, and whatever was found was burnt, or cast into the sea, or dispersed with the wind; about which the traditionary writers of the Jews, give many rules and canons, (See Gill on Exodus 12:15), for whoso eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut
off from the congregation of Israel;
which is repeated to deter them from the breach of this ordinance; (See Gill on Exodus 12:15), and it is added for further explanation, of whom it concerns: whether he be a stranger, or born in the land;
by a "stranger" is meant, not a mere Heathen, who was not bound by this law, but a proselyte; and not a proselyte of the gate, one that was only a sojourner among them, and observed the commandments of the sons of Noah; but a proselyte of righteousness, who professed the Jewish religion, and proposed to conform to it in all respects, and therefore was obliged to observe this as other precepts: and by one "born in the land", is intended a native of the land of Canaan, whither they were now going in order to possess it, or a real Israelite, such as were born of Israelitish parents, and proper inhabitants of Canaan, which they would be put into the possession of.

Exodus 12:19 In-Context

17 'You shall also observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt; therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as a permanent ordinance.

18 'In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening.

19 'Seven days there shall be no leaven found in your houses; for whoever eats what is leavened, that person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is an alien or a native of the land.

20 'You shall not eat anything leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.' "

21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go and take for yourselves lambs according to your families, and slay the Passover lamb.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 12:15; Exodus 23:15; Exodus 34:18
• 2. Numbers 9:13

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "soul"